1AN - I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who noticed my little goof up with chapters 21 & 28. I'm not quite sure how I managed to do that, but it's fixed now. Thanks for pointing it out though. That could have been really confusing. LOL

"And whatever you do, don't let go."

Glinda felt a shiver run through her sister's body at Breena's words and wondered if they were thinking the same thing... What would happen if, for some reason, they did become separated? But Breena was already well into the mirror, pulling all of them along for the ride, before either of them could voice the question.

She wanted to give Addena's hand a reassuring squeeze as they drew closer to the rippled silvery surface but her mind wouldn't cooperate. It was too busy trying to comprehend the fact they were using a mirror to travel across Oz. She always thought they were for primping or making sure your new outfit was as perfect outside the store as it was when you bought it, not a possible means of transportation.

Elphaba sensed Glinda's apprehension and thought about how she felt the first time she and Breena used the spell. She all but refused to go anywhere near the mirror they enchanted until Breena gave her a pep talk about being a witch and not being afraid to use her powers. Her cousins words wouldn't soothe Glinda the way they had her, but she knew something that would.

"I've got you my love," she tightened her grip on the blonde as she whispered to her. "I won't let anything happen to you."

The words were nice but it was the strength Glinda felt as she leaned back against Elphie's lithe body that calmed her more. The bond they shared absolutely amazed her. How had she muddled her way through life without it?

"You can open your eyes now, Glinda."

Elphie's warm breath against her ear drew her from her thoughts, making her realize her eyes were indeed shut. She opened them to find they weren't in the guest room anymore but a huge, loft style room instead.

Breena was frowning at Addena. "Are you trying to break my hand this time instead of my wrist?"

"Sorry." Addena let go of her. "I just… Wow."

"It worked." Glinda continued to take in her surroundings. The immaculately made bed and overloaded but organized book shelves reminded her of Elphaba's side of their room at Shiz. Only this didn't have the sterile feel of a dorm. No, this had the homey feel of a much loved space. She was willing to bet it was Breena's room.

"I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you." Elphaba still had her arm around her.

Glinda cuddled against her. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Not to be a bad host, but Elphaba knows her way around and I have to find Betak. I'll give you the grand tour later." Breena didn't give anyone a chance to reply before starting down the stairs leading to the rest of the house.

"Bree?" Elphaba sighed as she disappeared from view.

"She needs you."

"I know."

Glinda pulled away from her. "Then go be with her."

"I'm not sure I know how. I've never been very good at the emotional stuff."

"You're better at it than you think." Glinda cupped a green cheek. "Just let her know you're there like you did at the cavern. That's what she needs right now."

Addena glanced at them. "Shouldn't one of us go after her?"

"Elphie's got it." Glinda took her broom. "Go on. We'll catch up in a minute."

Elphaba nodded, staring into Glinda's eyes a moment longer before heading for the stairs. Why did this kind of thing always make her feel so inadequate? Her childhood hadn't been perfect, but it wasn't like she was emotionally stunted either. How many times had she comforted Nessa when they were growing up? Of course most of those were imagined injustices or slights that her overly dramatic sister blew out of proportion and a seemingly sympathetic ear or pat on the head were all it took to calm her down. It wouldn't be that easy with Breena. She had lost her best friend.

The thought tore at Elphaba's heart. Milynn might have betrayed Breena but she had seen more than enough when she was hiding here to know how close they were. Theirs was a relationship unlike any she'd ever had. Yes she grew up with Nessa but they were never close. Even what she had with Glinda wasn't the same.

Her thoughts scattered when she reached the bottom of the staircase to find Breena leaning against the wall of the second floor hallway, her left arm held tight against her side as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Bree?" Worry mixed with anxiety as she rushed to her cousin's side.

Breena looked up, her green eyes a storm of physical and emotional pain. "I..." She swallowed hard. "I don't think I can do this."

Elphaba wrestled with herself, her heart telling her to hug Breena while her brain told her not to touch her for fear of hurting her again. It took less than half a second for her heart to win as she pulled her cousin into her arms.

Breena didn't return the embrace, she just leaned against Elphaba as her tears continued to fall. "This makes it all so final." A sob shuddered through her. "If I go down there, she'll really be gone."

Elphaba rubbed her back, not sure of what she should say.

"Can we just stay here?"

The devastation in that single question brought tears to Elphaba's eyes. "We could." She pulled back to look at her. "But we're a lot alike, Bree. And I know I would never forgive myself for not being with her today."

"It just..." Breena sighed wearily. "It hurts so damn bad."

Elphaba pulled her close again. "That's because you love her. You need to honor those feelings by saying goodbye, not try to bury them by hiding up here. Because in the end it's going to hurt the same no matter what you do."

Breena sniffled. "You're right." This time she pulled away, avoiding her cousin's gaze. "Why don't you go get Glinda and Addena and I'll..."

"No." Elphaba shook her head. "I'm staying with you."

"I'm not going to run away. And they don't know their way around."

"The house isn't so big that they can't find their way downstairs." She lifted her cousin's chin, forcing her to look at her. "I love you, Bree. I'm not going to let you go through this alone."

Fresh tears filled Breena's eyes. "I love you too."

"RHAR!!!"

They both jumped as the roar filled the air and Lion came charging up the stairs from the first floor.

"I don't know who you are but..." His voice trailed off when he saw them. "I guess I do know who you are."

Elphaba frowned at the huge wooden spoon he was carrying. "What were you going to do with that?"

"I, uh..." Lion gestured sheepishly with the cooking utensil. "I heard voices and this was the first thing I could get my hands on."

"Elphie?! Breena?!"

Lion raised the spoon over his head as Glinda and Addena came charging down the stairs behind the other two women.

"We heard an awful noise. Are you all right?" Glinda drew the last word out when she saw Lion.

"Glinda!" Lion smiled.

"What's he doing with that?" Addena nodded toward him.

Lion started to lower the spoon again until he noticed her standing there. "Who are you?"

"Easy big fella." Breena wiped at the tears on her cheeks. "She's with us."

"Lion, I'd like you to meet my sister, Addena Upland." Glinda made the introductions. "Dena, this is a dear friend of mine, Lion."

He blushed at the term of endearment. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." Addena continued to stare at the spoon.

If it was possible, Lion's blush got even deeper. "Like I was saying, I was in the kitchen and heard voices."

"Were you eating?"

"Huh?" He frowned at the question. "Oh, no. It was just the first thing handy to grab on my way up here."

Addena nodded. "Interesting choice of weapons."

Lion switched his attention back to Elphaba and Breena. "Wow. You two look terrible."

"He's got quite a way with words too." Addena commented.

"What happened? Did you get the Grimmerie? How did you get here?" Lion was too caught up in looking at the witches to hear her comment.

"We used a spell." Elphaba decided to answer the easiest of his questions.

"That makes sense." He nodded as if it were an every day occurrence for people to show up out of thin air. "You weren't here when we went out to bury Milynn and I didn't see you on my way back to the house to get a drink afterwards."

"Afterwards?" Breena's blood froze. "You mean we're too late?"

"For the ceremony? Yeah. We finished up about half an hour ago."

"Damn it." Breena growled as she paced away from the group. "Damn it!" She punched the wall.

"Breena!" Addena started toward her to see if she hurt her hand but stopped short when she saw the look on her face.

"Where's Betak?"

"She..." Lion quaked at the rage in her voice. "She's..."

"Spit it out!"

He somehow managed to say, "She's still by the graveside," before hiding behind Glinda.

"I'm sorry Lion." Breena's anger went as quickly as it had come. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I just..." She shook her head, muttering another, "I'm sorry," as she hurried downstairs.

"Bree, wait." Elphaba followed her.

"I didn't mean to make her angry." Lion's voice was pleading as he looked at Glinda. "We waited as long as we could."

"I know." Glinda kindly rubbed his arm. "She's not mad at you. She's just upset."

"So is Betak." Lion shook his head. "I wouldn't be surprised if they get into it."

Glinda shared a look with her sister.

"I have no idea who the two of you are talking about, but obviously you want to be with Elphaba and Breena. So go." Addena made a shooing motion with her hand. "I'll get him to show me the way once he calms down a little."

"This is about as calm as I get." Lion said with a straight face. "And we should go with her. The graveyard is tiny and out in the middle of nowhere. It's easy to get lost. Fiyero did earlier."

"Fiyero?" Addena frowned at Glinda. "As in Fiyero Fiyero, your ex-fiancé?"

Lion looked surprised. "You know him?" He smacked himself on the forehead. "Of course you do. She's your sister."

"That can wait." Glinda interrupted before either of them could say anything else. "Can we please just go?"

She herded them both toward the stairs, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that they needed to catch up with Elphie and Breena.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Breena was running on pure adrenaline as she practically sprinted toward the graveyard, ignoring the protests her body kept sending out in a feeble attempt to get her to slow down. How could she have missed the funeral? How could her best friend have been laid to rest without her there to say goodbye?

"Bree!"

She could hear Elphaba struggling to keep up with her but she didn't wait for her or even turn to look at her, knowing all too well she would see her own pain over going to Upland Manor instead of coming to Munchkinland reflected in her cousin's eyes. That wasn't something she could handle right now. She wasn't even sure how she was supposed to face Betak.

Her steps finally faltered as she reached the clearing containing the small cemetery where her mother and Milynn's parents were buried. Betak was on her knees next to a fresh pile of dirt, Fiyero keeping watch over her. He looked up when he heard her approaching but she couldn't tear her eyes off of the old woman.

"This should be my grave, not hers. I was supposed to go first."

Tears clouded her vision again. "I'm sorry, Betak."

"You missed it."

Her heart skipped a beat as Betak turned to look at her. Try as she might she couldn't avoid those eyes. They were an older, wiser version of Milynn's.

"You should have been here."

"I know and I'm..."

"You could have been here, but you chose not to be."

Breena hung her head. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Betak echoed the word as she climbed to her feet. "You leave me to bury her by myself without so much as a goodbye and that's all you have to say? You're sorry?"

Glinda, Addena and Lion joined Elphaba, who had come to a stop a few feet behind Breena, as the old woman spoke.

"I..." Breena struggled to think, to breathe. What else was she supposed to say?

"How could you?" Betak's dark eyes snapped with anger as she advanced on her. "How could you run away like that? How could you abandon her when she needed you the most?"

"Stop it." Glinda came to Breena's defense.

"Leave her be, Glinda." Breena never took her eyes off the old woman. "She has every right to be angry with me."

"Damn straight I do." Betak came to a stop in front of Breena.

Glinda tried again. "She's upset enough without you attacking her."

"Upset? She throws my granddaughter aside for someone she hardly knows and she's upset?"

"She and Elphaba are cousins." Addena joined in. "I wouldn't call that hardly knowing each other."

"They've only known they were cousins for a few years ago. Milynn was her best friend for half her life." Betak stood on tiptoe to slap Breena. "Why?" She just as quickly slapped her again with her other hand. "Why?! She was practically your sister!"

"Elphaba is her sister!!" Glinda clamped her hand over her mouth as the words erupted from her lips.

The collective gasp her confession created seemed to snap Betak out of a stupor. Tears swam in her eyes as she looked at the younger woman before her.

"Oh Breena. I'm... I'm so sorry." She threw her arms around the girl's midsection. "I don't know what came over me."

"It's all right." Breena clinched her jaw to keep from groaning at the pain the embrace caused her.

"What's wrong?" Her reaction wasn't lost on Betak.

"Nothing."

"Why did you say that?" Elphaba asked her lover.

"Yeah, I'd like to know that too." Breena threw her hat in with Elphaba, not wanting to go into detail about her latest adventure just yet.

"To try to snap her out of it." Glinda tried to cover her tracks, chuckling nervously when she saw the matching looks on Elphie's and Breena's faces. "You're not falling for that, are you?"

Elphaba shook her head. "No, we're not."

Glinda sighed. "I said it because of the green bottles."

Addena furrowed her brow. "What green bottles?"

"Elphie and Breena have matching green bottles that belonged to their mothers."

"And their mothers were sisters." Fiyero pointed out. "Maybe they were family heirlooms."

"But someone else had the exact same bottle."

"Who?" Breena frowned.

"The Wizard."

"What?!"

Glinda flinched at the intensity of Elphie's reaction. "At Kiamo Ko you left three things behind to make me believe you were really gone... the hat I gave you, the Grimmerie and your green bottle. I was holding the bottle and thinking about you when I realized I had seen a bottle exactly like it somewhere. The Wizard carried it with him."

"Now that you mention it, he did have a green bottle." Fiyero nodded. "He offered me a drink from it in celebration of becoming captain of the guard."

"So what." Breena shrugged. "He could have bought it somewhere."

"That's what I thought." Glinda swallowed hard, knowing what she was about to say next would reveal the reasoning behind her suspicions to everyone. "So I confronted him. I told him Elphie's bottle belonged to her mother and he broke down. He said he left it behind with his 'dark eyed beauty.'"

"But for Breena and Elphaba to be sisters, he would have to be their father." Addena reasoned.

"He could be." The words came from Betak, not Glinda. "Leandra tried to convince me he was Breena's father one night over a shared bottle of wine but I wouldn't believe her. I thought she was drunk."

"Maybe she was." Breena huffed.

"It's a little coincidental, don't you think? Your mother going missing around the time she got pregnant? She and Melena being pregnant at the same time?" Betak reasoned with her.

"And the Wizard admitted to having an affair with Melena." Glinda tried to touch her love's arm but Elphaba pulled away.

"See, I told you you knew them."

They all looked in the direction of the new voice to find the Wizard, Boq and Yackle standing at the edge of the clearing.

"Congratulations!" Yackle clapped the Wizard on the back. "You have two daughters!"